Concerning Kim Riddlebarger’s interpretation of Romans 11:25-26 in his book

“A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times”

I am writing this to bring some clarification to Riddlebarger’s interpretation of Romans

11:25-26 concerning specifically the “mystery” which the Apostle Paul talks about in these
verses.
In considering any passage for any reason we must have a hermeneutic which takes into
account all that Scripture says, remembering that the Old Testament finds its fulfillment
through the New Testament, specifically Christ and what he taught. Scripture must interpret
Scripture. Scripture must inform our presuppositions. Our presuppositions cannot inform
Scripture.
Riddlebarger writes concerning the mystery of Rom 11:25-26. Riddlebarger concludes from
his exegesis of this passage that “In context, this mystery must in some way be related to the
future restoration of Israel” (p. 190). Several things stand out here:

1. He is not sure of his answer. He says “in some way”. Because he is not sure his
conclusion that this mystery here is related to the future of Israel’s restoration cannot
be accepted as valid.
2. He has limited his interpretation to just what is found in Rom. chapters 9-11. This does
not take into account all that Paul said about the mystery.

These three chapters are indeed the close narrow context of Rom 11 and all the problems that
passage poses for Dispensationalists and Amillennialists. A proper approach would be to ask
what else did Paul, who wrote this passage say about this “mystery” which was revealed to him.
Since it is Paul who talked of it we must understand from all he said about the mystery before
we can make a proper conclusion about one part of his usage of a word or phrase.
Paul wrote in 6 other passages besides the one in Rom 11 about this “mystery.” All of
these must inform any interpretation of one or another of the verses that talk about this
subject. This is true of any word, phrase or prophecy used by any author. The passages we need
to look at are; Rom 16:25, Eph 1:9-10, 3:4-10, Col 1:26-27, Col 2:2; 1 Ti. 3:16. When we read
these passages we see there is no need the confusion that dispensationalists and Riddlebarger
experience in understanding this isolated verse in Romans 11. Look at the very clear definitions
that are available in these passages.

Rom 16:25-26 show:

1. This mystery which has been “hidden for long ages past” (vs 25b) was the gospel Paul
proclaimed and that about Jesus Christ (vs 25a).
2. This mystery is now revealed (vs 26) “so that” (vs 26) all nations might believe and obey
him.

Clearly the goal of the mystery is that “all nations might believe and obey” Jesus Christ. It
doesn’t mean, however, that all individuals in those nations will do so.

Eph 1:9-10:
1. Christ revealed this mystery to the disciples who passed it on.
2. This mystery was the will of God “according to His good pleasure”.
3. This mystery was to be “purposed (fulfilled) in Christ”
4. And it was “to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment,”
meaning that God was going, “to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under
 one head (rule), even Christ” (vs 10). Christ now reigns over all things, He sits at the
right hand of God and rules on the supreme throne of authority (Rom 14:9, Col 1:18,
Php 2:9, Heb 1:4).

In Eph 3:3-10 we find a further clarification of all these things that are brought together
through this mystery:
1. Vs 6 says, “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with
Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ
Jesus.”
2. Paul makes it clear that we are to be able to understand this mystery, which is now no
longer a mystery. (vs 4) This mystery “was not made known to men in other generations
as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” (vs 5)
3. Now we get to an exact meaning of what the mystery means, verse 6: “This mystery is
that through the gospel the gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of
one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus”.

Col 1:26-27 further details of the mystery are disclosed here:

1. The mystery was not just revealed to the apostles and prophets but also to the saints (vs
26b).
2. He wanted to make known the glorious riches of this mystery which is “Christ in you, the
hope of glory.” This makes it clear that this mystery is not some future event but an
ongoing opportunity for salvation through Christ Jesus.

Col 2:2 Paul’s desire was that this body would know (believe and obey) the mystery (Christ) of
God.

1 Ti 3:16 – Paul declares this mystery as the mystery of godliness and describes Christ in the
following terms:
“He (Christ) appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in
glory.”

Conclusions:
1. We gather from these verses that Christ is the mystery and that He lives in us. All
the other meanings and results of the mystery have their bases in Christ Jesus
who saves men and women into this unified body as they believe in him (see
Acts 2:41).
2. Also, from these verses and the information we have gathered it is obvious that
the mystery of which Paul was discussing in Rom 11 has nothing to do with Israel
as a future kingdom having a particular role in salvation of its own. It does
declare Israel role as being part of a body that is united with Gentiles in one
united body, the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23). Or as Romans 16:25-26 puts it “so
that all nations might believe and obey.

This mystery began with the coming of Christ and was realized through His death
and resurrection. Christ said He would draw all people to himself when he was lifted up
(Jn 12:32). Thus the thrust of this mystery was to draw all nations, namely everyone to
believe in Him. John 3:16 says that “anyone” who would believe in him would have
eternal life. In light of this one’s inclusion into this kingdom of salvation does not
depend on ones ethnicity but on one’s faith in the saving power of Christ’s grace
brought by his death and resurrection.
We cannot conclude that the Israelite nation, as an entire ethnically oriented group,
will have a distinct role in the Kingdom of God but it is the true believers in the Mystery,
that is, Christ coming into this world to bring all things under his Lordship (Eph 3:3-10).
Nowhere in Scripture can we conclude that this salvation will automatically save a whole
nation based on ethnicity. The only way a whole nation could possibly be considered as
being in this kingdom is if every single individual of that nation confessed and believed
that Jesus Christ is their Lord (Rom 3:27-28). It is a choice every single individual must
make.
This new kingdom is made up of people from ethnic groups (Gal 3:28) not just the
nation of Israel. Paul also said that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile (Rom
10:12. Once again, Paul himself makes clear that the participation of Israel in this
kingdom of salvation is not in the future but a current reality and that it becomes a
reality as each Jew accepts Christ as Savior (Rom 10:13).
All verses used here come from the New International Version of the Bible (©1990, B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co).
All underlining, italics and bold lettering within verses quoted are mine.

Written by: Sherman L. Critser

December 17, 2009